Subarctic Cetaceans in the Southern Chukchi Sea: Evidence of Recovery or Response to a Changing Ecosystem

Clarke, Janet T.; Stafford, Kathleen M.; Moore, Sue E.; Rone, Brenda K.; Aerts, Lisanne; Crance, Jessica L.

doi:10.5670/oceanog.2013.81

Cited by 53 publications

(37 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…Range shifts associated with climate change have been observed in some marine mammal populations (e.g., Kovacs et al, 2011;Clarke et al, 2013;Hamilton et al, 2015). Substantive shifts in the distribution of marine mammals and other large marine vertebrates have been predicted (e.g., IWC, 2010;Gilles et al, 2011;Becker et al, 2012;Hezel et al, 2012;Keller et al, 2012;Gregr et al, 2013;Hazen et al, 2013;Mannocci et al, 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Projecting Marine Mammal Distribution in a Changing Climate

et al. 2017

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Climate-related shifts in marine mammal range and distribution have been observed in some populations; however, the nature and magnitude of future responses are uncertain in novel environments projected under climate change. This poses a challenge for agencies charged with management and conservation of these species. Specialized diets, restricted ranges, or reliance on specific substrates or sites (e.g., for pupping) make many marine mammal populations particularly vulnerable to climate change. High-latitude, predominantly ice-obligate, species have experienced some of the largest changes in habitat and distribution and these are expected to continue. Efforts to predict and project marine mammal distributions to date have emphasized data-driven statistical habitat models. These have proven successful for short time-scale (e.g., seasonal) management activities, but confidence that such relationships will hold for multi-decade projections and novel environments is limited. Recent advances in mechanistic modeling of marine mammals (i.e., models that rely on robust physiological and ecological principles expected to hold under climate change) may address this limitation. The success of such approaches rests on continued advances in marine mammal ecology, behavior, and physiology together with improved regional climate projections. The broad scope of this challenge suggests initial priorities be placed on vulnerable species or populations (those already experiencing declines or projected to undergo ecological shifts resulting from climate Silber et al.Projecting Marine Mammal Distributions changes that are consistent across climate projections) and species or populations for which ample data already exist (with the hope that these may inform climate change sensitivities in less well observed species or populations elsewhere). The sustained monitoring networks, novel observations, and modeling advances required to more confidently project marine mammal distributions in a changing climate will ultimately benefit management decisions across time-scales, further promoting the resilience of marine mammal populations.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Projecting Marine Mammal Distribution in a Changing Climate

et al. 2017

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“…, Clarke et al . ). Such expansion does not necessarily represent a net benefit to such populations, at least in the short term.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…, Clarke et al . ) and temporal and geographical overlap of previously discrete populations across the Arctic Ocean (Heide‐Jørgensen et al . , Alter et al .…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The influx of new species will follow, and potentially influence, changes in trophic dynamics in the Arctic due to warmer water temperatures and reduced sea ice. Gray, fin, common minke, humpback, and killer whales have already expanded their ranges northward and into Arctic waters (Kovacs et al 2011, Clarke et al 2013. Such expansion does not necessarily represent a net benefit to such populations, at least in the short term.…”

Section: Climate Change and Ocean Acidificationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Status of the world's baleen whales

Thomas

Reeves

Brownell

2015

Marine Mammal Science

175

135

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“…Specifically, humpback, fin and minke whales were seen between Bering Strait and 698 N latitude during aerial surveys conducted from July through to September 2009-2012, where none were seen during surveys conducted from 1982 to 1991 [6]. These three species appear to have expanded their range in late summer to now join the Arctic-endemic bowhead whale and the seasonally resident grey whale [7] in the rapidly changing marine ecosystem of the Pacific Arctic.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Is it ‘boom times’ for baleen whales in the Pacific Arctic region?

Moore

2016

Biol. Lett.

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The marine ecosystem in the Pacific Arctic region has experienced dramatic transformation, most obvious by the loss of sea ice volume (75%), latesummer areal extent (50%) and change in phenology (four to six weeks longer open-water period). This alteration has resulted in an opening of habitat for subarctic species of baleen whales, many of which are recovering in number from severe depletions from commercial whaling in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Specifically, humpback, fin and minke whales (Megaptera novaeangliae, Balaenoptera physalus and Balaenoptera acutorostrata) are now regularly reported during summer and autumn in the southern Chukchi Sea. These predators of zooplankton and forage fishes join the seasonally resident grey whale (Eschrichtius robustus) and the arctic-endemic bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus) in the expanding open-ocean habitat of the Pacific Arctic. Questions arising include: (i) what changes in whale-prey production and delivery mechanisms have accompanied the loss of sea ice, and (ii) how are these five baleen whale species partitioning the expanding ice-free habitat? While there has been no programme of research specifically focused on these questions, an examination of seasonal occurrence, foraging plasticity and (for bowhead whales) body condition suggests that the current state of Pacific Arctic marine ecosystem may be 'boom times' for baleen whales. These favourable conditions may be moderated, however, by future shifts in ecosystem structure and/or negative impacts to cetaceans related to increased commercial activities in the region.

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Subarctic Cetaceans in the Southern Chukchi Sea: Evidence of Recovery or Response to a Changing Ecosystem

Abstract: 2013. Subarctic cetaceans in the southern Chukchi Sea: Evidence of recovery or response to a changing ecosystem. Oceanography 26(4):136-149, http://dx.

Cited by 53 publications

References 39 publications

Projecting Marine Mammal Distribution in a Changing Climate

Projecting Marine Mammal Distribution in a Changing Climate

Status of the world's baleen whales

Is it ‘boom times’ for baleen whales in the Pacific Arctic region?

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